Nano particles1/13/2024 Krug recently published a review in Angewandte Chemie called Nanoparticle research – are we on the right track? In this he states that toxicology tests carried out on nanoparticles by researchers with no toxicology expertise are not fit for purpose. Testing concernsĬare over the way tests are carried out and the way that the data is reported is one of Harald Krug’s largest concerns, explains the former head of the lab for materials–biology interactions at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology. Nevertheless, the link had made newspaper headlines. Maynard’s response at the time was that there was nothing wrong with the work, but that the risk was probably low as previous research had shown that the nanoparticles can’t penetrate the skin and that there were even indications that the nanoparticles form a strong protective barrier on the skin. They observed that the nanoparticles can have an impact on the protein misfolding associated with the diseases. Vyvyan Howard, a pathologist and toxicologist, and Christian Holscher, an expert in Alzheimer’s disease, were investigating whether human engineered nanoparticles, including titanium dioxide – the active ingredient in sunscreen – can induce neurodegenerative disease. In 2009, the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland issued a press release detailing an investigation into a link between manmade nanoparticles and Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Then there was a fear within business and policy communities that people would begin to associate the term “nano” with potential risk like we saw with GM crops.’Įvery now and then, nano-related health-scare stories crop up. ‘There was emerging evidence that there were unknown mechanisms with which small particles interfered with biological systems. ‘That concern was grounded in early research,’ says Maynard. It has been suggested that if care isn’t taken over the way nanomaterials and data on nanomaterials were handled, they could develop a reputation similar to that of genetically modified (GM) crops. ‘One of the clearest places to see this is in the food industry, which as a whole has pulled away from using nanomaterials because there seems to be too much uncertainty around the products.’ Then there is the secondary possibility that without knowing what these new risks are and how to manage them, people may pull back from trusting or investing in the technology,’ says Andrew Maynard, director of the University of Michigan Risk Science Center in the US. ‘That was one of the big drivers behind concern over nanoparticles. But, by creating these tiny particles, scientists were creating potential new ways for materials to interact with the human body and the environment. The end of the 1990s saw considerable investment in new nanoscale materials thanks to their distinct properties. Concerns have also been raised about the way nanomaterial toxicity data is reported. But with the research still in its infancy, their long-term effects on human health and the environment remain poorly understood. Nanoparticles – particles in the 1–100nm range – have unique properties compared to their larger counterparts such as the ability to squeeze into spaces inaccessible to larger particles. Nanomaterials have been on the scene for over 15 years and they are being applied in a variety of sectors including coatings, textiles, energy, security, IT, food, cosmetics and medicine. Kenneth Eward / Biografx / Science Photo Library
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |